By maintaining appointment schedules, processing bills, updating patient records, and performing other essential tasks, Medical Administrative Assistants keep operations running smoothly at hospitals and clinics across the country.

Some job listings refer to the role as medical office assistant or medical receptionist, but no matter what you call them, Medical Administrative Assistants are essential to providing high-quality patient care.

Where Medical Administrative Assistants work in North Carolina

North Carolina offers a variety of potential workplace settings for medical admins, such as:

• Hospitals and medical centers: Every hospital needs administrative pros to maintain their operations, and North Carolina hospitals like Carteret Health Care in Morehead City and the Outer Banks Hospital in Nags Head are no exception.
• Specialty clinics and private practices: Smaller clinics and specialty hospitals like the North Carolina Specialty Hospital in Durham rely on Medical Administrative Assistants to help manage unique challenges.
• Healthcare systems: Many North Carolinian Medical Administrative Assistants are employed by the state’s largest healthcare systems, such as Atrium Health, Novant Health, and UNC Health.

In most cases, medical admins work under the supervision of a physician or nurse practitioner and do not perform medical tasks. Instead, Certified Medical Administrative Assistants handle crucial organizational tasks like:

• Communicating with patients
• Directing patients in the waiting room
• Helping patients fill out paperwork
• Keeping the office organized and stocked
• Maintaining patient records
• Making and answering phone calls
• ‍Scheduling appointments
• Working with billing and insurance

According to the NHA, 84% of employers nationwide require or encourage certification for Medical Administrative Assistants.

Passing the CMAA exam not only proves that you’re ready to take on all of the important responsibilities entrusted to Medical Administrative Assistants, but also gives you leverage to negotiate a higher starting salary.

To be eligible to take the CMAA exam, you’ll need to have a high school diploma or GED and meet one of these two requirements:

• Completed a Medical Administrative Assistant training program in the last five years
• Performed one year of supervised work in a Medical Administrative Assistant field within the last three years, or two years of supervised work experience in a Medical Administrative Assistant field within the last five years